Breaker strip mounting clip



BREAKER STRIP MOUNTING CLIP Filed Dec. 13, 1960 kglmamz 'INVENTOR.

ROBERT A. MUNSE WMAQQL ATTORNEY United States Patent ()fi ice 3,060,535 Patented Oct. 30, 1962 3,060,535 BREAKER STRIP MOUNTING CLIP Robert A. Munse, Perrysburg, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Bishop and Babcock Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Dec. 13, 1960, Ser. No. 75,526 2 Claims. (CI. 2473) This invention relates to spring clips used in the manufacture of various cabinet constructions for mounting panel-like plates or strips, commonly known as breaker strips.

In the manufacture of refrigerator door structures, a breaker strip is mounted in the desired position by an operation taking place entirely from the outer side of the assembly because the inner side is not conveniently or readily accessible for application of the fastener. The breaker strips are usually in the form of elongate panels of relatively thin cross section and made of molded plastic material. The breaker strips have no projecting parts subject to damage and are usually provided with suitable connecting means for the convenient attachment thereto of spring clip fastening devices by which the breaker strip may be mounted by a snap fastening action or otherwise to make possible the desired interconnection between the breaker strip and the supporting structure. One arrangement of such connecting means embodies spaced clip-receiving sockets which are provided as integral portions of the breaker strip on the underside of the breaker strip.

An object of this invention is to produce a new and improved spring clip which may be effectively applied to the breaker strip so as to be retained in place and so designed as to enable the same to be secured to the supporting structure in a simple manner.

Another object is to produce a spring clip of this type which is adapted to be positively secured in attached position on the breaker strip but which may be released from such locked position and detached from the breaker strip.

A further object is to produce a simple and efficient spring clip having novel features of construction and arrangement enabling the same to be conveniently applied in secured position to the breaker strip and positively held in position of use and also having leg members for engaging a supporting structure, the construction being such that the spring clip is mounted on the inner or concealed side of the breaker strip and is applied to the supporting structure by a simple snap action.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown on the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view through a jam portion of a refrigerator and door for same, showing the breaker strip mounted in postion of use;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the spring clip on the breaker strip and connected to the supporting structure;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the breaker strip showing a socketed portion for receiving the spring clip;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the spring clip for attaching the breaker strip to the adjacent wall member;

FIGURE 5 is a side edge view of the clip;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the clip showing one side thereof; and

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the clip showing the opposite side thereof.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a refrigerator structure having an outer sheet metal casing 10 provided with an inturned edge portion 11 at the front thereof. The refrigerator body also has an inner sheet metal casing or wall 12 and between the inner and outer Walls is suitable thermal insulation 13. To close the space between the inturned outer wall portion 11 and the inner wall 12, it is customary to employ a so-called breaker strip 14 of molded plastic material. As shown, the breaker strip 14, which is in the form of an elongate panel or strip, has an inwardly turned front edge portion formed with a groove 15 to fit over the free edge of the inturned outer wall portion 11. 16 designates the refrigerator door which is provided with a sealing strip or gasket 17 to abut the outer face of the inturned casing portion 11 as shown on FIGURE 1.

A free edge portion of the inner casing wall 12 is formed with a laterally inclined cup-like channel 18 which has a substantially flat body portion, an inner flange 1? and an outer flange 20 disposed at substantially right angles to the body portion and extending toward the inner or concealed side of the breaker strip 14.

An inner flange 19a of the breaker strip is adapted to abut against the refrigerator wall flange 19 so that substantially a continuous inner surface is provided between the inner casing wall 12 and the breaker strip. Disposed adjacent the flange 19a is a series of clip-receiving sockets which are formed integrally on the inside of the breaker strip. Each of these sockets comprises a pair of outwardly projecting laterally spaced ribs 21 integral with the inner or concealed side of the breaker strip and extending to the free edge of the flange portion 19a. Each of the ribs 21 has a lateral flange 22 extending toward the opposite rib, the under surface of each flange 22 being straight and inclined in a direction away from the inner side of the breaker strip. Integral with each rib and disposed parallel to the inner surface of the respective flange 22 are strips 23 which with the flange form a groove or socket 24 to receive the spring clip as will hereinafter appear.

For fastening the breaker strip to the channel-shaped edge portion 18 of the inner casing wall 12, a one-piece substantially U-shaped spring metal clip is employed and each clip is provided with a pair of legs 25 and 26. The legs 25 and 26 extend generally in the same direction and are connected by an integral curved wall 27 which has a cut-out 28 to enhance the flexibility of the clip. The leg 25 has at its free end an outwardly bent pointed tab 29 which serves as a lead for the applying of the breaker strip.

The main portion of the leg 26 of the clip is approximately one-half the width of and disposed centrally with respect to the leg 25 as shown particularly on FIGURE 7, and has its outer end portion bent slightly toward the arm 25 as indicated at 30 and terminates in a pair of laterally spaced teeth or prongs 31, the pointed ends of which curve outwardly. It will be observed that there is a V-cut at the end of the arm 26 which forms the two teeth 31 and these teeth are spaced from the side edges of the body of the leg 26. Each of the teeth 31 has a rearwardly extending flat arm or tail piece 32 which is curved outwardly slightly adjacent its free end portion, these tail pieces being adapted to abut against the breaker strip as shown on FIGURE 2 with a spring action for yieldingly holding the clip in the desired position. It will be understood that the tail pieces 32 extend into the grooves 24 respectively and the teeth bite into the strips 23 for securing the clip in position of use.

Struck from the body portion of the leg 26 is a detent 33 providing a shoulder which, as shown in FIGURE 2, is engaged by the free edges of the flange 20 on the channel portion 18. The leg 25 of the clip yieldably and resiliently engages the outer surface of the channel edge portion 18 as shown. From the above, it will be manifest that a series of the clips are mounted in the sockets 24 as indicated above, and then the breaker strip may be applied to the channel edge portion 18 as indicated, the grooved edge 15 being pressed over the edge of the inturned casing portion 11.

Numerous changes in details of construction and arrangement may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A fastener for attaching a breaker strip to a body part in which the breaker strip has fastener-receiving sockets, said fastener comprising a spring clip having first and second leg portions laterally spaced and extending in the same general direction and integrally connected at one end, an outwardly extending tab on the free end of said first leg, said second leg being of less width than said first leg, laterally spaced prongs on the outer end of said second leg and inclined outwardly away from said first leg, tail pieces on the rear ends of said prongs respectively and spaced from the side edges of said second arm, said tail pieces being gener-ally rectangular in shape and extending in substantially parallel relation to one another, and an intermediate section integrally connecting said prongs and said tail pieces respectively, said intermediate section being curved in a direction toward said first leg, said prongs, said tail pieces, and said intermediate section cooperating to retain the clip within a socket in the breaker strip whereby said prongs and said tail pieces are urged into snug engagement with one surface of the socket by said curved inter-mediate which engages another surface of the socket, said prongs, said tail pieces, and said intermediate section cooperating with said first leg for clampingly engaging an edge portion of a body part.

2. A fastener for attaching a breaker strip to a body part in which the breaker strip has fastener receiving sockets, said fastener comprising a spring clip having first and second laterally spaced leg portions, said first and second leg portions extending generally in the same direction and integrally connected at one end, said first leg portion having an uninterrupted substantially rectilinear body portion, the side edges of which terminate to form a generally V-shaped tab,.said tab being bent outwardly away from said second leg, said second leg being of less width than said first leg, the side edges of said second leg extending in parallel relation with one another, said side edges of said second leg terminating in outwardly extending spaced prongs, tail pieces extending rearwardly from said prongs respectively and spaced from and parallel with said side edges of said second leg, an intermediate section integrally connecting said prongs and said tail pieces respectively, said intermediate section being curved in a direction toward said first leg, and a detent struck from said second leg in the direction toward said first leg providing a shoulder for engaging the free end of a body part, said prongs, said t-ail pieces, and said intermediate section cooperating to retain the clip within a socket in the breaker strip whereby said prongs and said tail pieces are urged into snug engagement with one surface of the socket by said curved intermediate which engages another surface of the socket, said prongs, said tail pieces, and said intermediate section cooperating with said first leg for clampingly engaging one edge portion of a body part.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,195,068 Wiley Mar. 26, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 217,506 Australia Oct. 7, 1958 506,524 Canada Oct. 12, 1954 

